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Franken: Bill could keep rural post offices open

Legislation on its way to the U.S. House includes a moratorium on rural post office closings, which could keep dozens operating in Minnesota.

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Al Franken says a postal reform bill the Senate passed Wednesday would give small towns more options to keep their post offices open.

"The postal regulatory commission will have the power to overturn scheduled post office and processing center closures when communities or individuals make a compelling case to keep the facility open," Franken said. "So it's the right of redress, really."

Last year, the U.S Postal Service announced about 90 post offices in Minnesota that were under consideration to be closed.

Franken said the bill also contains an amendment he worked on, to continue a moratorium on rural post office closings for another two years. Postal Service officials say they need to cut $20 billion in operating costs over the next three years. Franken says the bill would help the agency balance its books. The legislation is on its way to the U.S. House.

"It will save the postal service over $15 billion a year," Franken said.

In December, USPS said it would halt the closure process until at least May 15.